It’s true: the glossy pages of the Williams-Sonoma catalog wooed me once again. While my old waffle maker was a wonderful old friend that brought many a weekend breakfast to my family’s table, it was ready for retirement.

Among other ailments, its “ready” beep has been sounding much more like a frizzled “croak” these days, and I could only write off its increasingly uneven browning as “rustic” for so long. Time for an upgrade!

In the great breakfast food debate, I’ll almost always choose a good homemade waffle over a stack of pancakes.

Don’t get me wrong: I love pancakes. But, there’s something extra-special about biting into a warm waffle, just off of the iron, with its crispy shell and tender, malty interior.

(I’m talking about the thinner, “classic” American waffles here, not Belgian or Liege, which are each their own delicious discussion.)

My biggest issue with waffle-making over the years has been that it can be hard to find a recipe that fits the bill texture-wise (and justifies the work).

So many “tips” I’ve tried—from adding whipped egg whites and cornstarch to double-baking—have been promising at first, only to turn into dense, soggy bricks within seconds of serving.

Not to mention the mess. On a weekend morning, who really wants to clean up a stack of bowls and eat soggy waffles? Not I!

One of my favorite waffle recipes comes from Jeni Britton Bauer (of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream fame). I found the recipe on Britton Bauer’s original blog a few years ago, and they’ve been in my waffle-making rotation ever since.

When I read that she developed the recipe from the original Fannie Farmer* cookbook, I knew that they would be good. The addition of a little bit of whole wheat flour to the recipe gives the waffles a nice chew, without compromising their light texture.

The best part? Almost all of the work is done the night before. Mix the batter before you go to bed and pop it in the refrigerator to let the yeast work its magic.

The only thing standing between you and hot, crispy waffles when you awaken from your beauty slumber is the time it takes to pre-heat your iron.

Britton Bauer’s raised waffles have such a delicious flavor and texture that they need little in terms of toppings. I usually just go with a dusting of powdered sugar and/or a drizzle of warm maple butter (recipe below), plus a few fresh berries.

I first had Maple Butter a few years ago at a brunch, where it was served alongside French Toast. The warm sauce provided the perfect balance of buttery sweetness in every bite. A few forkfuls in, I knew that I would have to experiment with this at home for my next batch of waffles.

In the mood for dessert instead? Take a cue from Britton Bauer and top them with a scoop of ice cream. “North Market” waffles are a home run any time of the day.

*I debated doing a post on Fannie Farmer’s legendary Raised Waffleswhen I started this site, but so much has been written about them on the food blogs over the years, there’s honestly nothing I can add that hasn’t already been said! It’s a personal favorite and a quintessential addition to any recipe box.

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Raised Waffles With Warm Maple Butter

Crispy raised waffles, with a drizzle of warm maple butter and a few fresh berries, are all you need for weekend breakfast perfection!

For the Warm Maple Butter

1/2cuppure maple syrup(not "pancake syrup")

1/4teaspoonkosher salt

1/2cupunsalted butter(1 stick), cut into 1-tablespoon pieces

Instructions

Waffles

Place milk and butter in a small saucepan and warm over medium-low heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat and let cool to 105-110 degrees F (slightly warm). Insufficient cooling will kill the yeast in the waffle batter.

In a large bowl*, whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Add the warm milk/butter mixture and whisk until smooth.

In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and vanilla. Whisk into the waffle batter until combined. Using a rubber spatula, scrape sides and bottom of bowl, gently folding batter until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.

Heat and prep waffle iron according to your manufacturer's instructions. Remove risen batter from refrigerator and give it a quick stir with a whisk, fork, or rubber spatula. The batter will deflate. Pour the appropriate amount of batter for your waffle iron onto the center of the plates. Bake until heavy steam subsides and the waffle is just lightly golden, about 4 minutes.** Transfer to a wire rack.

Serve waffles immediately, or hold on a wire rack-rimmed baking sheet in a 250-degree oven for up to 10 minutes while additional waffles bake.***

Warm Maple Butter

In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, warm the maple syrup and salt until bubbles just begin to form around the edges of the pan. Remove from heat and whisk in butter until melted and smooth. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Recipe Notes

*Use a larger bowl than you think you need, as the batter will rise significantly overnight. The bowl photographed here is a 6-quart.

**The amount of batter used for each waffle will depend on your specific iron. My 6-1/2" round takes a scant 1/2 cup.

***If you decide to go back for seconds long after the waffles have been baked, I've found that a quick trip to the toaster oven (just 1-2 minutes on "light") brings them right back to their fresh-from-the-iron texture. Like all waffle recipes, even these will get soggy when allowed to sit at room temperature for prolonged periods of time. It's the nature of the beast!

I find that these waffles are best prepared in a classic American-style waffle maker, as opposed to Belgian. The thinner waffles better achieve the crisp-chewy ratio that this recipe strikes so well. My Warm Maple Butter can be made up to a week in advance of serving, refrigerated, and gently rewarmed on the stove, stirring frequently.

Have you made this recipe? Let me know by leaving a comment and rating the recipe below! Don’t forget to take a picture and tag @stripedspatula and #stripedspatula on Instagram for a chance to be featured in my newsletter!

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Comments

I really need to get a waffle iron! I was reading about a way to make a “waffle” using a panini press with the griddle plates, but I think I need to make the real deal. I too would rather make waffles than pancakes..for the crispy finish as well! This looks yummy!

I love my waffle maker, Hilary! When we got our first one, I wondered how often we’d actually use it. As it turns out, we’re total weekend waffle lovers! It’s also nice to make a big batch and freeze them for a quick homemade breakfast when time is short.

(PS – I haven’t tried breakfast waffles on a panini press, but know a woman who made great ice cream cones that way! The plates’ shallower grooves were perfect for cones. Yum!)